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ER: Chapter 42 - Deephorn
Day 65, 8:45 PMThe dead town’s council sure is taking their sweet time reaching a decision. Especially considering their choices are to gamble on what some might view as heretics or to die.I can see fatalistic fanatics choosing the latter over the former, but I don’t think people abandoned by the church would have all that many fanatics. Fatalists, on the other hand…The inside of the stone guardhouse is surprisingly homey and warm, both cou...
Chapter 147 - Royal Invitation
16th of Season of Earth, 58th year of the 32nd cycleAfter the feast, Newt took a fasting pill and returned to cultivation. Hours passed as he made minor corrections to the vast majority of his spell formations. None required a major overhaul, but a scant few remained in perfect condition, requiring no modifications.Two days later, he finished his inspections and corrections, sinking his teeth into the creation of new spell formations. From the fi...
Chapter 146 - Master Chef
16th of Season of Earth, 58th year of the 32nd cycleNewt returned to his residence, still shocked, unable to believe what had happened. When he left his realm after a handful of minutes he dedicated to checking its state, he was the only disciple in the field. He was terrified he had finished last, and in a sense he did.Emeraldstreak rushed him from her house, leaving the door open. She stopped before Newt, her stoic face sporting a smile.“Cong...
ER: Chapter 41 - Left For Dead
Day 65, 2:00 PMLearning magic is one of the most, pardon my lack of a better term, magical experiences in my lives.Sensing the ethereal images veiled behind the wordless songs which somehow tell the world what I want it to do is exhilarating. Doubly so because most have not a speck of connection with what the spell really does.The intent behind the leaf and twig gathering spell Edna uses when making camp is a sudden whirlpool in a calm lake and a...
Which elements should the Sage's Realm tournament have?
You can pick multiple options. Clarification, the tournament will have multiple events.
Chapter 145 - The Soul Waterfall
15th of Season of Earth, 58th year of the 32nd cycleNewt, along with his fellow core disciples and four hundred and seventy-odd inner disciples, entered the secluded realm. The fine vapor misted, blocking his vision. while the thundering noise assaulted his ears. There was no danger, however, and as instructed by the venerable, he followed the waterfall’s roar.Soon the droplets filling the air grew from motes of fog into real drops, spraying Ne...
ER: Chapter 40 - Journeyman
Day 63, 12:10 PM“I got a level!” I interrupt Edna mid sentence. She glances back, gifting me a frown for my effort.As expected, the choice is between getting better at estimating distances and getting better at estimating weights. Both seem fairly useless. But the former sees more use in combat, so I pick it and read the next level up condition.Ask a question your master should know the answer to, but they do not. Alright.“Hey, Edna, can yo...
Chapter 144 - The Second Solstice
45th of Season of Fire, 58th year of the 32nd cycleElder Longfang observed the field he had arranged. It housed a glorious spell formation, one which helped him recover his confidence after failing to break the privacy spell formation the sect’s guest had used some moons ago.Losing to a third realm grandmaster scribe hurt, but it was an important lesson as well. Ingeniously used lower realm tools could thwart even considerably higher realm effo...
Chapter 143 - Manic
87th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycleNewt sat in his practice room in the Chamber of Runes. He could not tell when he started enjoying examining spell formations, due to his unique realm layout the activity felt nearly identical to cultivation, and as his understanding grew, so did his potential.Even with Dandelion designing the exact blueprint, understanding what he had done and why was also an important part of Newt’s cultivation...
ER: Chapter 39 - Three From One
Day 41, 10:30 AM“Are we far enough?” I ask, despite knowing the answer.Edna hesitates, then nods. “We are.”I don’t know why she didn’t want to hold lessons until we got closer to the corrupted lands than we were to Tallrock, but as an apprentice, I’m guessing it’s my job to obey my master, rather than doubt them.Lucy, Gila, and I kneel beside a thirst tree, enjoying the extra dry ground, and wait for Edna to begin her lecture. She...
ER: Chapter 38 - Plans
Day 39, 5:15 AM“And since I care about you, I’m going to explain some things.” I look at Edna. “You already know everything I’m about to say, and the topic might pe painful for you—”“I’m staying.” Her voice is determined, and I nod before explaining the political reasons behind the church’s prosecution of mages and those who can live outside its influence.The girls aren’t stupid, they understand what I’m saying, and the ...
Chapter 142 - Wine
47th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycle“That was so depressing,” Elder Woodhopper said after closing the door and making sure Newstar had left the range of her perception.“It needed to be done.” Elder Alabaster entered the corridor from a side room adjacent to the one in which Elder Woodhopper had the sensitive conversation with Newstar.“You owe me a big favor.”“Did you really have to tell him you were having a sex talk w...
ER: Chapter 37 - Healing
Day 39, 2:30 AMEdna cracks her eyes open as much as her welts allow, her head on my lap. She looks up at me, and I place a finger over my lips, telling her to be quiet, then motion towards the sleeping girls.“Heal yourself first,” I whisper, ignoring her dismay as she realizes we have two more companions. Her swollen face and quarter-open eyes detract from her furious glare, and just like with Gila, I ignore her anger. She will get used to th...
Chapter 141 - Family Matters
47th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycleNewt and Elder Woodhopper entered a large room styled to emulate a hunter’s cottage. A large, stone fireplace stood at the far end, flames licking three logs inside. Dagger-long fangs decorated a wall, some blazing with residual spiritual energy in Newt’s third eye, while a modest-sized, hairy hide of some unknown creature decorated the floor in front of the fireplace.A feasting table large en...
ER: Chapter 36 - Convincing
Day 38, 8:50 PMI reach Lucy and Gila with Edna out cold in my arms. The girls have started a fire. In its light, they nervously await my arrival. When I started out in Everrain, kidnapped by a presumed mad witch, I never expected a development like this. It almost feels like a German folktale. I’m leading children away from their homes, with a witch in my arms, only lacking a dancing goat or donkey. Considering Everrain fauna, maybe I should se...
Chapter 140 - Blanket
AN: Bear with me, I know what I'm doing.AN2: In other news I had my wisdom teeth removed yesterday (2), another two are coming out next Monday. Three of them require(d) surgery, so now I'm swollen and life is generally not fun. I think it won't affect my schedule, but if it does, I'll make it up to you. Enjoy the chapter!47th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycleNewt had no clue how long he had been climbing. Hours certain...
ER: Chapter 35 - Breakthrough
Day 38, 6:40 PMOne against two. You’d think that means things get easier, but this is where the real fight starts. Hell, I remember going through an army of mooks, and the only problem being the knight who led them.Add in an important woman, whose dress is smoldering as she stands atop a blazing pyre, and you get some nasty pressure. The only upside is that Edna had apparently made her dress impervious to everything, including flames. Smoke and...
ER: Chapter 34 - The Witchburning
Day 38, 6:30 PMI’ve led Lucy and Gila out of the fortress. We kept to the edge of the throng of people going to see the burning, and I slipped them away from the crowd, towards the jungle. They are familiar with the terrain, the wandering wildlife is nowhere near as dangerous as the fifth floor of the dungeon, since humans aren’t the only food around. Besides, the girls have wandered those wilds plenty of times without getting hurt.We have ag...
Chapter 139 - Those Who Climb
45th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycleHow? Just how does he keep getting ahead of me?Pond Brook overtook Newt for the eighth time. The challenge had started seven hours ago, and for the eighth time, he saw Newt’s back as he whirled past him. The going had been more and more difficult as hours went by, his arms grew heavy, and he was forced to breathe all the time just to get enough oxygen pumping through his aching muscles.He’s ch...
Chapter 138 - The Tower of Suffering
45th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycleFor the cheap price of five second realm spirit gems, Newt arranged a season-long accommodation for Dandelion amongst the workers of the Explorer’s Gate. He had not seen his big brother since, both of them focusing on their work.Newt paused his cultivation until Dandelion finished the new and improved realm blueprint. The man had assured him he would reuse as much of the original design as possi...
ER: Chapter 33 - Meet the Rivens
Day 38, 4:20 PMApparently, Fred tried to blame me into talking him and his cousins into going to the dungeon, the little shit. Fortunately, Gila, Lucy, and Martin, who was supposed to be the fourth member of the team, outed him. Gila even said I saved him from the orb-weaver, so, fortunately, the older generation is well disposed towards me, Fred’s dad included.I’m still amazed by the name; Ed, dad of Fred, sounds like something straight out ...
Chapter 137 - Brothers
27th of Season of Air, 58th year of the 32nd cycle“But isn’t it useless? It doesn’t stop people from listening in on us, they can just burst your bubble.”“And then we stop talking, so they have nothing to listen to. At most, they will hear one word. Now what is it that you wanted to talk about?”Newt hesitated, staring at the half-sphere of fake scenery, with waves frozen in place and motionless birds hanging in the sky. Finally, Newt ...
ER: Chapter 32 - The Choice
Day 33, 4:20 PMI spent a full day and a half getting used to the sensory storm before Edna finally headed home to prepare the things we will need for our marathon of lessons. My job, as her apprentice, and definitely not a hunter, we have strongly, very explicitly stipulated that, is to hunt a month’s worth of food. She will freeze some, and we prepare the rest through cooking lessons, since BSD didn’t specify that I needed to take magic less...
ER: Chapter 31 - The First Obstacle
Day 31, 5:00 AMThe choice between Advanced Arithmetics and Expert Calligraphytakes some thought. On one hand, there’s balance, on the other, a higher tier skill always trumps a lower tier one. Plus, Edna mentioned some mages made do without picking up arithmetics at all, so initial tier skill should be enough. Besides, it’s just arithmetics, how hard can it be to level?With those considerations, I pick Expert Calligraphy, then check my new le...
ER: Chapter 30 - Apprentice Mage Breakdown
Day 31, 4:20 AM“Ready for your lesson?” Edna asks while the rain still assaults the canopy above us. Whoever designed this crazy ecosystem needs a five star review, would let them design a world again.“Sure am,” I say without skipping a beat. I’ve been hovering at the border of sleep, waiting for her to catalog her thoughts.“All right.” She tries not to sound surprised by me being already awake and starts her lesson as I move to kne...
Chapter 136 - Respect
59th of Season of Water, 58th year of the 32nd cycleWhile Newt fought Jade, Fourchains pulverized Gale. Another hour passed, and nobody issued new challenges.“Newstar Blazing Salamander has entered the core sect undefeated, welcome young man,” the venerable in charge of the trial said, for the first time showing any semblance of emotion other than terminal boredom. Her next statement, though, came out with no enthusiasm at all.“As for the o...
ER: Chapter 29 - Heretical Ideas
Day 30, 8:20 PMRain drums and rustles against the forest canopy so dense it might as well be a roof. I’m terrified and excited by my idea. If I live long enough, I’m certain I’ll advance anarchist, even though the conditions get more and more absurd with each passing level.I don’t delude myself that I’ll amass enough power to become truly immortal; worse, I might achieve it and grow bored of life. No, what I need to do is learn how BSD ...
Chapter 135 - Family Drama
59th of Season of Water, 58th year of the 32nd cycleAfter realizing that there was nothing to learn from Gale Calmriver’s victory, except to never lower his defenses under any circumstances, not even a fraction, especially between his legs, Newt took the advice Twochains had given him, and meditated.Even if he watched others fight, until his mastery of the spear and combat reached a sufficient level, he would only gain questionable benefit. Wor...
ER: Chapter 28 - Mad Genius
Day 30, 2:45 PMMana is alive. I don’t know where that intuitive knowledge comes from, but I can feel it. The way it dances, mana isn’t leaves floating in a mighty river, it is an entity, a creature with its own will, or at least an instinctive knowledge of where to go.I stand above a gushing stream of golden-colored mana, yet I remain a hazy green silhouette, giving off the same mana as the forest, drawing it to make up for what I have lost. ...
ER: Chapter 27 - New Sense
Day 30, 10:35 AMUltimately, I failed. Like many times in life, when things mattered the most, I didn’t meet my own expectations.I pick Initial Mana Sensefrom my choice of available skills, and check my second level up condition. Fully comprehend the lesson given by your master.“What is it?” Edna asks, following my despondent sigh.“I leveled up, took Initial Mana Sense, and now I have to fully comprehend a lesson of yours to level up again...
